Featured

Tinapa Resort: Exquisite Home Away from Home

Published

4 years ago

December 1, 2018

Eric

Eric Elezuo

Tinapa is a business and leisure resort just north of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria associated with the Calabar Free Trade Zone. It is being developed in four phases under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) promoted by the Government of Cross River State. The resort is located by the Calabar River, contiguous with the Calabar Free Trade Zone.
The Tinapa Free Zone & Resort has facilities for retail and wholesale activities as well as leisure and entertainment. For consumers, the resort has about 80,000 square metres (860,000 sq ft) of lettable space for retail and wholesale made up of four emporiums of 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft) each and smaller shops, warehouses, and so on.

An entertainment strip contains a casino, digital cinema, children’s arcade, restaurants, a mini amphitheater, a night club and pubs. There is an artificial tidal lake that feeds from the Calabar River, a Water Park / Leisure Land and parking Space for about 4,000 cars.

Business facilities include an open exhibition area for trade exhibitions and other events, and a movie production studio commonly called “Studio Tinapa” or “Nollywood”. It is set to become the most modern film production studio in Nigeria. There is a 243 room international three star Hotel. The resort also has a truck terminal, and gets power from an independent power plant.

The Tinapa Waterpark is an invitation to experience unequalled family fun in Tinapa’s scenic environment. The Waterpark comprises adult and children sized pools, exciting water games, breath-taking slides, a Lazy River, a Wave-pool – surfer’s delight as well as other exciting attractions.

In addition to these, you can have your choice of beverages and also try out our local delicacies for which Calabar is famous. There is no doubt that you and your loved ones will be soaked in fun and excitement.

The Tinapa Games Arcade is the ideal place to treat the kids to pure and undiluted fun. From diving into the exhilarating excitement of the Ocean Bomber, to keeping up with the fast pace of the Mini Basketball, the kids can slide straight over to a game of Ice Hockey and take control of the Dodge-em cars. Once in this world of fun, it will be a bit of a challenge to want to leave.

Overlooking the Artificial Lake in Tinapa, the Fisherman’s Wharf comprises a food court as well as some pubs.

With such breath-taking scenery, your meals become even more tasty and your drinks more refreshing. Come savor nature at its best as you recline and watch fishing and other activities on the Tinapa tidal Lake.
Tinapa Lakeside Hotel is the premium hotel of choice for men and women of distinction. Exquisiteness and Class oozes out of every single one of the Hotel’s 242 rooms. Tinapa Lakeside boasts of facilities and services which are nothing short of world class. Located in a breath-taking environment, Tinapa Lakeside’s beauty extends from its exterior right to the interior.

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With a team of highly professional experts in the world of hospitality, Tinapa Lakeside Hotel is an experience worth having.

Tinapa was initiated by former Governor Donald Duke as a way to boost business and tourism in the state. Over $350 million was spent on initial development. The first phase of Tinapa Business Resort & Free Zone, Calabar, was commissioned on the 2 April 2007. Tinapa is a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) drive from Calabar by a roundabout route, but the Federal government is building a more direct 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) access road to link it with the city.

The Ultra modern Tinapa Film Studio located within the Tinapa Free Zone & Resort, provides first class production and post production support services to both local and foreign film, television and music producers using the best equipment available in the industry.

Fondly referred to as “Nollywood” by industry watchers, Studio Tinapa is set to become the prime location in Nigeria and indeed the West African Region for producing Feature Films, TV Shows, TV Dramas & other related productions. With Studio Tinapa, your productions are guaranteed to shine brighter than all others. That’s the Tinapa advantage.

Other facilities available at the Tinapa Resort are as follows:
Pre-built retail and wholesale accommodation amounting to an excess of 65,000m2 lettable area composed of Four Emporia of 10,000m2 each, several Line Shops, Warehouses, and so on.

An Open Exhibition Area for Trade Exhibitions and other events.
An entertainment strip that comprise spaces for a Casino, an Eight-Screen digital Cinema, vintage international standard restaurants, a night club and pubs.

Also available with the entertainment Centre is a functional Games Arcade and a mini amphitheater.

There is also an artificial tidal lake that feeds from the CalabarRiver which it self flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Water sport activities including fishing, can be undertaken on the TinapaLake.

A man-made beach where leisure events can be held.
A Two Hundred and Forty Two (242) Room international three star Hotel christened “Tinapa Lakeside Hotel” being operated by the African Sun Hotels, South Africa, one of Africa’s leading hospitality managers.
A movie Production Studio commonly referred to as “Studio Tinapa” or “Nollywood”. It is the most modern film production studio in Nigeria.
A Water Park/ Leisure Land comprising a collection of children and adult size pools, water slides, a wave pool-surfers delight, a lazy river as well as a bar and restaurant.
Parking Space for about Four Thousand Cars
A truck Terminal
A Helipad
An independent power plant that ensures adequate and uninterrupted power supply to the Zone.
Over 6 kilometers of perimeter fencing with a good security network.
A dedicated Police post that provides security for the Zone along with a team of private security organizations.
Efficient Telecommunication facilities.
Uninterrupted water supply
Good internal and external road network that ensures quick access to the adjourning manufacturing based Calabar Free Trade Zone, the Calabar Port, the Margaret Ekpo International Airport as well as the Cross River State major Highway leading to neighboring States within the region.
Over 15 kilometers of underground piping for sewage and storm water.
A sewage treatment plant.

Featured

My Elegy on the Sad Passage of High Chief Raymond Aleogho Ayaoghena Dokpesi, Ph.D, OFR

Published

5 hours ago

May 29, 2023

Eric

By Mike Ozekhome

I am a very sad man as I write this. I am completely devastated by the ugly news of the rather sudden death of my elder brother, friend, kinsman, soulmate and confidant, HIGH CHIEF RAYMOND ALEOGHO AYAOGHENA DOKPESI.

Dokpesi had called me on WHATSAPP at about 1.30am THIS MORNING (29th May, 2023). He called me to discuss friendship, brotherhood and take advice on sundry legal matters. He exuded his usual happiness, vibrancy, and gusto, notwithstanding that he has had some health challenges for some time. His voice was quite rich, steady and filled with laughter, as we taunted and bantered with each other, as we were wont to do whenever we encountered
each other. We exchanged chats and spoke up to about 1.50am this morning. So when Chief Tony Akiotu (GMD, DAAR Communication) and Senator Francis Alimhikhena called me to break the sad news of his death from the very hospital where he was said to have been rushed to, I could not believe my ears. It took another communication from his first son, Raymond Dokpesi Jnr to melt my lethargic world of disbelief. Was the Ezomo of Weppa Wanno Kingdom’s call to me a FAREWELL from him? Did he have the premonition of his imminent death? I do not know. Gosh!!! One thing is clear to me as I grieve: Weppa – Wanno, Etsako, Afenmailand, Edo State, Nigeria, Africa, the black race, and indeed the whole world, has lost an unforgettable and uncommon shining star and gem. At a mere 71, Dokpesi lived a life of nobility; a life wholly dedicated to the service of God and humanity. He impacted the most vulnerable through his many philanthropic works. In the maritime world, he stood tall and resplendent, earning a Ph.D in Maritime Engineering. He was to become the nullus secondus of the media world where he became a Czar, the Ted Turner of African broadcasting.

Dokpesi indeed pioneered and blazed private independent broadcasting of television and radio in Nigeria and Africa, establishing Raypower and the African Independent Television (AIT). It was unheard of that a single individual could challenge and break decades of government’s dominance and monopoly of information through radio and television. But, the Araba of Oshoroland and Oghierumhoa of Weppa Wanno Kingdom did just that. In politics, Dokpesi was a master strategist and iconic tactician. His name vibrated and revibrated across Nigeria for decades in Nigeria’s political firmament. He epitomized the soul and spirit of DAAR. Not many Nigerians know that DAAR is actually a reversed acronym of his name – RAYMOND ALEOGHO AYAOGHENA DOKPESI (RAAD).

The Ezomo came. He saw. He conquered. He ran a good race. He finished well. May God grant this legend and collosus eternal repose of his great soul until we meet to part no more.

tseee, Itseee lagi Itseee

Featured

Police Arrest Four Yoruba Nation Agitators for Seizing Radio Station

Published

1 day ago

May 28, 2023

Eric

Some Yoruba Nation agitators, on Sunday morning, seized Radio Nigeria, Amuludun FM 99.1 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, taking over broadcast for more than one hour.

A source told The PUNCH Metro that the agitators, who besieged the station around 5:40 am in an 18-seater bus, were armed with dangerous weapons and charms, threatening to deal decisively with any staff member who refused to cooperate with them.

However, four out of the agitators, among whom was a woman, were arrested by the police with the assistance of the Nigerian army, while others ran into different directions to evade arrest.

One of the arrested agitators, who sustained gunshot wounds, had rushed into the studio to tell others that security operatives had taken over the nooks and crannies of the station. The blood stain was seen in the studio.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that after holding some night duty staff and security guards hostage, the agitators hijacked the studio and announced live on radio “Welcome to Yoruba Nation.”

An impeccable source further said they continued threatening staff members to remove all Nigeria flags in the station and replace them with Yoruba Nation flags as they have already taken over the Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

It was further learnt that they initially hijacked some commercial vehicles (Micra) to block the main road.

When our correspondent visited the station at J&P Bus-stop, Moniya in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, more than 20 operational vehicles of security agents, including Department of State Services were sighted at strategic locations to forestall any eventuality.

Confirming the invasion, the most senior staff on duty, Ajayi Omotola, stated that, “They told us that they are Yoruba Nation agitators. And in their T-shirt, there was that inscription there. They wrote Yoruba Nation. Only six persons came inside the studio with different charms threatening to kill us if we failed to cooperate. Others were outside manning security at different areas within the premises.

“They collected all our phones and threatened to kill us if we made any noise or phone calls. They said they wanted to broadcast live that Yoruba Nation has taken over. We should remove all Nigeria flags in our studio and replace it with their own. They didn’t allow anybody to go outside. The Area Commander came, addressed and even pleaded with them but they ignored him. We later heard sporadic shooting outside. So, one of our staff members then came inside to inform us that police and soldiers had arrived,” Omotola stressed.

As of press time, normalcy had returned while stern-looking security operatives were still manning the station.

The Punch

Entertainment

76th Cannes Film Festival Ends with Bang

Published

2 days ago

May 27, 2023

Editor

The stars on parade at 76th Festival de Cannes

By Michael Effiong

The colour, the glamour, the style and class of the 76^th Annual Cannes Film Festival ends today with a big bang.

Festival de Cannes, the film industry’s most prestigious festival will take place at 8:30 pm and will be broadcast live on France 2 and internationally on Brut.

The Jury, presided over by director Ruben Östlund and including director Maryam Touzani, actor Denis Ménochet, writer/director Rungano Nyoni, actress/director Brie Larson, actor/director Paul Dano, writer Atiq Rahimi, director Damián Szifron and director Julia Ducournau, will select the winners from the 21 films in Competition this year.

Actress Anaïs Demoustier, President of the Jury, will hand out the Caméra d’or award to the best first film. Actress Stacy Martin and director Ildikó Enyedi, President of the Short Film and La Cinef Jury, will award the Palme d’or for short films.

Actor Orlando Bloom will hand out the Jury Prize. Actor Song Kang-ho, last year’s winner of the Best Performance by an Actor for Broker and actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi, last year’s winner of the Best Performance by an Actress for Holy Spider, will award the Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor Prizes respectively.

Actor John C. Reilly, President of the Un Certain Regard Jury, will award the Best Screenplay Prize, while Pete Docter, Creative Director of Pixar Studios, will present the Best Director Prize.

The Festival de Cannes will also be honored by the exceptional presence tonight of legendary filmmaker Roger Corman, who will present the Grand Prix alongside virtuoso Quentin Tarantino.

Finally, the prestigious Palme d’or will be presented by the formidable and inspiring Jane Fonda.

The Closing Ceremony will mark the end of the 76th Festival de Cannes, and will be followed by the screening of Peter Sohn‘s film Elementary in the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

The 21 films competing for the Palme d’or this year are : Firebrand by Karim Aïnouz, Asteroid City by Wes Anderson, Rapito (Kidnapped)(Kidnapped) by Marco Bellocchio, Les Filles d’Olfa (Four Daughters)(Four Daughters) by Kaouther Ben Hania, L’Été dernier (Last Summer) (Last Summer) by Catherine Breillat, Kuru Otlar Ustune (About Dry Grasses)(About Dry Grasses) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Le Retour (Homecoming) by Catherine Corsini, The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer, Club Zero by Jessica Hausner, May December by Todd Haynes, Monster by Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Kuolleet Lehdet (Fallen Leaves)(Fallen Leaves) by Aki Kaurismäki, The Old Oak by Ken Loach, Il Sol dell’ avvenire (A Brighter Tomorrow)(A Brighter Tomorrow) by Nanni Moretti, La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher, Black Flies by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, Banel e Adama by Ramata-Toulaye Sy, La Passion de Dodin Bouffant (The Pot-au-Feu) (The Pot-au-Feu) by Tran Anh Hùng, Anatomie d’une chute (Anatomy of a Fall) (Anatomy of a Fall) by Justine Triet, Jeunesse (Le Printemps) (Youth (Spring))(Youth (Spring)) by Wang Bing, Perfect Days by Wim Wenders.